5. Larry Fitzgerald
There is perhaps no wide receiver in NFL history whose class and grace as a player is matched by his class and grace as a person. Few have served as a better ambassador for the game than Fitzgerald. He’s always had respect for the game and showcased tremendous amounts of dignity. At the same time, he’s one of the best receivers in the NFL year in and year out, showing few signs of his age or even frustration as he closes out his career on a rebuilding Cardinals team.
You don’t get to the top of the all-time list in receptions, yards, and touchdowns without consistency, good health, and longevity. But you also don’t get to 11 Pro Bowls without being able to play at a high level. Fitzgerald’s remarkably consistency over an extended period of time is virtually unmatched. In 15 seasons, Fitzgerald has missed just six games and has never had less than 700 yards receiving in a season. He somehow managed to keep enough in the tank to haul in 109 catches in both 2015 and 2017, toward the tail-end of his career. Somehow, Fitzgerald owns just as many records for being the youngest to accomplish something as he does for being the oldest in NFL history to accomplish something, which tells you everything you need to know about his career.